In this file photo from last year, U.S. Rep. Fred Upton speaks in Kalamazoo as part of the Kalamazoo Regional Chamber of Commerce's Legislative Connection series.Gazette file photo

Hello and good afternoon, you've landed on Southwest Michigan Politics, your look at what's happening in the campaigns and chambers of our corner of Michigan.

— Upton poll has campaign up: A poll by Congressman Fred Upton's reelection campaign has the Republican incumbent up in his race against Democratic challenger Mike O'Brien.

The poll results, provided to MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette by the campaign, show Upton leading O'Brien 58 percent to 27 percent. The margin of error is 5.7 percent.

The sample size was 302 voters in the district, from phone interviews with people who were asked if they were voting for O'Brien or Upton. The poll was conducted Oct. 10-11 by David Hill of Hill Research Consultants.

Last week, the O'Brien campaign released a poll that showed O'Brien in a "dead-heat" with Upton. Of those polled, 47 percent said, if the election was held that day, they would vote for Upton. Of the remainder, 42 percent said they would vote for O’Brien.

— Upcoming forums: Here are some upcoming candidate forums and debates in Southwest Michigan. If you know of anything happening, please let me know and I will add it to my list.

— TONIGHT: A forum for state House and Allegan County clerk will be held tonight at 7 p.m. at Fennville High School. The forum will feature Democratic challenger Stuart Peet and State Rep. Bob Genetski, a Republican. Also joining them will be Allegan County clerk candidates Julie Cowie, a Democrat, and Republican incumbent Joyce Watts.

— TOMORROW: On Wednesday night, candidates for Kalamazoo County treasurer, clerk and drain commissioner will come together for a forum at the MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette news hub at 5:30 p.m. Here's more about the candidates.

— A candidate forum for Kalamazoo County sheriff and prosecutor is scheduled for 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, in the main Kalamazoo Public Library's VanDuesen room. The event is hosted by the Kalamazoo County Bar Association and the League of Women Voters, Kalamazoo Area.

— OCT. 23: The Northside Business Association will host a meet-the-candidates forum for the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners, running in districts one through five. The event will be held on Oct. 23 from 11:30 to 1:30 p.m. in the main Kalamazoo Public Library's Van Deusen Room.

— If you missed it: Here's the latest campaign finance reports from Upton and O'Brien. I'll have more on them later today.

— What's happening out there: If there is anything political happening, or you get a robocall or piece of mail, see a TV ad or hear something on the radio, let me know. I can be reached at fklug@mlive.com or 269-370-0584. On social networks, I'm on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and, my newest venture, App.net.